“”3. Was the police state always this bad, but I was just naive? “
No. It wasn’t. I remember when cops were polite and actually protected and served the public. I knew cops in my youth that had gone 20 years on the force and never had drawn their service revolvers. I knew cops that had never had a partner or another fellow officer shot or involved in a shooting. I remember when cops said “Sir” and “Ma’am” and meant the respect. I remember being taken home after getting caught doing dirty deeds and the cops treating me fairly and with respect. I had respect for them in return.
Now it is just “Them versus Us. The Blue Line!” I have family who are cops and know first hand their deranged mentality. It is total brainwashing. They see every car, person, dog, cat, mouse, hamster, goat, pig, and fly as a potential lethal threat. They are trigger happy paranoids that find reward for shooting things. They have become Army Ranger wannabees. They “tac out” (meaning tactical gear, military gear) as often as they can. They are nerds looking to look cool by acting tough. They are posers, always posing with their weapons and tac gear.
I have no more respect for the police officer profession. None. They have no respect for We the People who pay their paychecks.
“I have family who are cops and know first hand their deranged mentality. It is total brainwashing. They see every car, person, dog, cat, mouse, hamster, goat, pig, and fly as a potential lethal threat. They are trigger happy paranoids that find reward for shooting things.”
My wife has a friend who is married to one of our town’s former Chiefs. It’s somewhat sad, but true nonetheless, that they become very different people than the rest of society over time I suspect due to their $hit environment. He’s been retired for any number of years, but still hasn’t manage to deprogram himself entirely. Also, they carry a lot of guilt from their actions, this guy joined a church.